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Navy Sailors are living lives most people only read about

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A Features 1 2 My Mommy’s a Mermaid

CM2(DV) Lisa Correa gets called all kinds of names - “Mud Puppy,” “Mermaid” and “Seabee Jane,” to name only a few. But for this Sailor, wife and mother, the only name that matters is her new title of “Seabee Diver.”

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1 4 Sculpting Sailors BMC(SW) Jeffery Dickinson is currently pushing his 1 l th division at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Ill., having instilled in more than 900 young men and women the Navy’s Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment.

1 6 And the Band Played On MU1 Connie Frigo is a 26-year-old saxophon- ist, a lover of music and a proud member of the U.S. Navy Band.

2 0 Rue Blue AS2 LeJuan Clay and AE1 Karen Marini keep the Blue Angels looking great and flying high.

A

101 R o d n e y F u r r y

ecretary of the Navy ‘he Honorable Richard Danzic :hief of Naval Operat ,DM Jay L. Johnson bief of Information LADM Thomas Jurkowsk ‘ommanding Officer, l a d Media Center

,APT Edward Lundquist Still Media Department Head CDR John Kirby ublishing Division Officer T Paula Dunn

Marie G. Johnstor Managing Editor JOCS Steve Burgharat Assistant Editor JOl Robert Bensc Editorial Staff JOl Ron Schafer JOl Rodney Furr; JOl Jason Thompson 702 Jeremy Allen J02 Brigette Barn DM1 Rhea Mackenzie

rrint Media Coordinatt LT Tyrus Lemerande

24 High Plains Drifter RM2 Kurt Essebaggert, a Navy recruiter in the tiny Nebraska town of Scottsbluff (pop. 13,566) drives thousands of miles each month inviting young people to “Join the Adventure.”

2 8 Austauschsoldat [Exchange Soldier/Sailor] STGCM(SW) James Stone and ETCS(SW) Rick Breininger are more than just Sailors - they are U.S. Navy Ambassadors, serving in the German navy as part of the Personnel Exchange Program.

3 2 Torpedo Chaser QM1 (SW) Jon Thurston is “the man.” He commands an 85-foot torpedo retrieval boat based out of Pearl Harbor.

I . . . I

On the Cover CMZ(DV) Lisa Correa recently received her certificate from the Naval Construction Training Center’s Underwater Construction School, becoming the first African- American woman to qualify as a “Seabee Diver.”

On the Back Cover Newly-appointed Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig hits the deckplates running by talking with - and listening to - Sailors.

Photo by PHCS Terry Cosgrove

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Quantum Leap OS2(SEAL) Michael Ford and his Leap Frog teammates perform all across the country in more than 50 precision, free-fall demonstrations a year.

Aquaman PRAN Randy Hooks has a special friend named Dinky. Dlnky is a 24-year-old Atlantic bottle- nosed dolphin and a member of the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program.

6 Around the Fleet

42 CyberSailor

44 Eye on the Fleet

48 Shipmates

CAT FLIGHm

(CBS-N, 12 p.m.). Navy is trying to make it two in a row, havl defeated the Black Knights In last year's annual classic 39-7. West Point maintains a sllght edge in the series 47-44 (7 ties

I Go Navy! Beat Army! Photo by PH2 Damon Morltz

I

i

r f i Around the F lee t

r -two Sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU-2) recently

accompanied the rescue and salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53) to Nova Scotia, Canada, where they assisted Canadian authorities in the

recovery of victims and wreckage from the crash of SwissAir Flight 11 1.

low visibility in the area of Peggy's Cove where the MD- 11 went down, the Navy brought with it a newly- developed piece of hardware to assist in the underwater search. The equipment is part of a larger suite of under- water sensors developed to hunt mines and includes a Synthetic Aperture Sonar and a Laser Electro-optics Identification System -both of which are used to provide detailed images of the ocean floor. The complete suite is called the Mobile Underwater Debris Survey System and was operated from the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGV Hudson.

Story courtesy of Navy Ofice of Information East,

Because of the extremely

Navy Assessment CeV- to thtr nesm

T here are some new sher- Research of Y2K impact iffs in town and they are on those items that are working to drive the Y2K not in the data base.

Bug from Navy facilities and Risk Assessment of non- bases worldwide. The Navy compliant Y2K items. Assessment Center in Port Guidance on repairs, cost, Hueneme, Calif., has been timeline and contingency established by Naval Facilities planning. Engineering Command Your command should (NAVFAC) to help ashore contact them today and commands locate their Y2K provide electronic or hard copy weaknesses. Some of the inventory data via the services provided by the specially-designed Y2K inven Center include: tory data collection forms,

Inventory assessment which can be downloaded

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(www.nfesc.navy.mil/y2k). Completed forms should be forwarded either by e-mail to nfescy2kQnfesc.navy.mil or via conventional mail to:

Y2K Help Desk Naval Facilities ESC Code 21 1100 23rd Avenue Port Hueneme, CA 93043

For further information, call

1368, or e-mail 805-982-1368, DSN 551-

whether a date problem would cause that device to fail, keep on your inventory of items requiring a complete Year 2W’ check Never compromise safety, even if you are 99% certain the item poses no Yea 2000 risk. That last 1% uncer tainty could kill or injure a

shbmate.

Story by Dave Bettinger, Director for Business Solutzc for CST2000, LLC, Portland, Maine, and Co-leader for thc Society for Information ManagementS (SIM) International Year 2000 Working Group. He is also a former YNI who served tour! at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads and with Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-IO). He huh written numerous articles and spoken throughout the United States on Ear 2000 issues.

’ EMBEDDED CHIP CHECKLIST , ; + y ax& 1. Does the device operate with electricfty? If no, it’s low risk. If yes, keep reading. 2. Does it have a battery or power supply? If no, it’s still low risk. If yes, look further. LOW risk

items include hair dryers, analog clocks, electric pencil sharpeners. 3. Does it have a display? If no, it’s low risk. If yes, keep going. Low risk examples include

refrigerators, paper shredders, older microwaves. 4. Does it have a microprocessor? If no, it’s low risk. If yes, keep looking. Low risk items in

this category include televlsion sets, stereo equipment, computer monitors. 5. Does it have a calendar? If no, low risk again. If yes, look further. Low risk items include

microwave ovens, coffee makers, printers and most copiers. 6. Does the device use a calendar to schedule events? If no, it’s low risk. Examples: digital

clocks or calendars that don’t schedule anything, cameras, watches, etc. Examples of high risk items include: phone systems, fax machines, irrigation systems, energy management systems that control lights, heat, etc., based on time and date.

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Wilh 1 BEQ Wilh 2 BEQs

$130.

Wib 3 8EQ1 390.

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With FLAG QUARTERS $ 1275. Mortgage Value $150. 8EQ1 cost $200. each

Flag Qwhrr , $200. plur 4 8EQr

1 Nothln’ But a 1 Hound Dol 1 . . .. ..

E lvis is alive and he made a grand entrance at the annual “Sea N Sky Fest” at

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., when the “Flying Elvi” parachuted onto the base. Among the gaudy, sequined men of the Las Vegas-based aerial team is a black-wigged, curled-lipped petty officer assigned to Branch Medical Clinic, Maxine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, Calif.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Greg Bishop from Louisville, Ky., has a passion for jumping out of airplanes - a passion which led him to become a skydiving instructor and eventually to audition for the “Flying Elvi.” (That’s the plural of Elvis.)

greatest thing in the world, man,” said the sideburned- Sailor in a passable Memphis accent from behind his mask as “The King.”

AU ten members of the ‘‘Flying Elvi” are pro-rated skydivers, with a team average of more than 1,500 jumps each. They come from a wide variety of occupations including teacher, health inspector, pilot, writer, real estate agent.. . and now, U.S. Navy Sailor!

“Being a ‘Flying Elvi’ is the

Story by JOl Bill Austin, Naval Air Reserve Public Affairs.

D E C E M B E R 1 8 9 8

B y M a s t e r C h i e f P e t t y O f f i c e r o f t h e Navy MMCM(SS/SW/AW) J im Herdt

Speaking with Sailors Q: When the new utility uniforms come on line, what i s the Na planning to do with the surplus dungar@=’ Are there anv recvcl

programs planned? - AW2 Jack Wolfkill, VP-69

dungaree stock will be depleted by Jan. 1, 2001, when the utility uniform becomes prescrib

current stock of

any dungarees left in ” lay inventnry and in Sailors’ possession will become organization clothing.

, suspect there will be a great desire to shift to the new uniform as soon as possible. By Jan. 1, 2001, all E-6s and below will have received two yearly clothing maintenance allowances that will allow the purchase of four sets of utilities. We want all Sailors to pla

accordingly. During the two-year optional period, E-6 and below will be required to have four sets of working uniforms in their possession, which may be either dungarees, utilities a combination of bott-

Slftlng Through the Years

M ost Sailors were in kindergarden during the war in Vietnam. For

them, Vietnam is a piece of history - remembered in black and white film clips and old photographs in dust-covered copies of LIFE magazine.

But, for one Sailor in Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, (JTF-FA), Vietnam is more than just a memory. It is also home. When Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 2nd Class Dat Mai, 27, was seven-years-old his family climbed into a small boat to escape the war which ravaged his homeland. The small boat full of fellow refugees carried the Mai family from Cam Ranh Bay, in what was then South Vietnam, to the Republic of the Philippines. His family later settled in Portland, Ore.

“We just got tired of hearing bombs exploding,” said Mai.

Mai joined the Navy nine years ago, figuring his Vietnamese language skills would serve him well as a linguist. He was right. JTF-FA’S mission is to conduct investiga- tions and excavations to achieve the fullest possible accounting of those still missing from the war in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia). His ability to speak Vietnamese and his cultural background has made Mai an invaluable member on the JTF-FA team. He is a

D 5

0,

CT(1)2 Mai talks about his childhood in Vietnam.

member of a 12-man Recovery Element (RE), a team which travels in-country looking for personal effects and/or human remains.

The RE teams frequently hire local Vietnamese men and women to assist them in the digging and screening process. It’s not uncommon to have 50 to 75 local villagers helping out at a recovery site - making Mai’s Vietnamese language skills extremely valuable.

Mai can usually be found on site under a bright blue tarp giving instructions to the local villagers as they sift through thousands of cubic feet of soil. A screening station usually consists of eight to 12 screens made of ‘Il-inch mesh wire. The work is grueling. Temperatures can reach 100 degrees.

Mai also serves on Investigative Elements (IE). His

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:

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: ’ . .

job is to assist in interviewing potential local witnesses about incidents from the war, which might help the IEs correlate an unaccounted-for service member to a particular site. Quite often in the course of these interviews, a Vietnamese witness, will offer to take the IE to the actual site where the service member was last seen or buried.

There are currently 2,08 1 service members still unac- counted-for from the war in Southeast Asia. Of those, 1,554 are believed to be in Vietnam.

“We should continue to look for those men and women who made the ultimate sacri- fice for their country. It’s the honorable and humanitarian thing to do,” said Mai.

He is then interrupted by the woman next to him who is pointing at her screen. He stops and reaches into the screen and plucks out what appears to be a small clump of dirt. He takes his trowel, gingerly taps on it and after brushing it off, holds up a small brown vial of water treatment tablets still unopened after 30 years. He gingerly places the vial into a bucket with other artifacts and quietly resumes %is search for those still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

L ” ADM Johnson told committee

members that his number-one, short-term concern is taking

Bataan Aids in Disaster Relief r e Norfolk-based USS

Bataan (LHD 5) arrived in Puerto Rico Oct. 7 for its

first operational mission, "Operation Fundamental Relief," to assist with cleanup from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Georges.

100 Sailors and a small unit of soldiers combined forces with Bataan's crew of 970 for the crucial mission.

Bataan's primary mission is support for Marines ashore, using its flexible capabilities to provide logistics support, conduct boat operations and function as an airport to more readily reach isolated disaster areas quiddy and effectively. '

Approximately 750 Marines,

"I'm excited because it feels like we finally have a pay-off after all the hard work of commissioning," said Radioman 2nd class Liliana Armenta from Los Angeles. Armenta continued by explaining that humanitarian missions and the opportunity to have an impact on the world around her were two major factors which initially attracted her to the Navy.

"I just thought there had to be life outside of Los Angeles," Armenti said. "I plan to volun- teer for as many functions as I possibly can. ''As a diplomat to all these

different people, I want to prove the Navy is an effective ambassador,"

Story by J 0 3 K.J. Lettow, USS Bataan (LHD 5) Public Affairs.

T1hn.E C A P S U L E " E C E M B E R 1 9 6 8

CNO Announces More Reductions in IDTC

I n a Navywide message sent Oct. 15, Chief of Naval Operations ADM Jay L.

Johnson announced further reductions in the number of inspections required during the time between deployments known as the "Inter- Deployment Training Cycle," orLIDTC.

The newly-issued changes include:

Elimination of all SECNAVKNO special interest items requiring mandatory inspection and reporting.

* Immediate cancellation of an additional 15 inspections and assist visits. Consolidation of 72 inspections/certifications.

. . - Transformation of 27 inspections/certifications into optional assist visits. These reductions are the

second in a series of changes designed to cut the number of inspections, streamline training, increase commanding officer flexibility and improve quality of life for Sailors during IDTC.

The first set of reductions was announced Sept. 25, and included the elimination of five command inspections (On-site Command Inspection, 3M Inspection, PQS Inspection, Intelligence Inspection and ADP Security Inspection) and a

All Hands recognizes the Chaplain Corps and its ,,LOO members for their service at home, on ships at sea, and with troops in Vietnam.

The Naval Photographic Center, Washington, D.C., celebrates its 25th anniversary while producing more than 150 movies a year, a feat which earns it the title "Little Hollywood."

The Deep Submergence Systems Yroject moves one step closer to improving its capabilities for deep-sea search, rescue, salvage and diving with the announcement that DSRV- 1 is almost ready for delivery and sea trials.

USS Sacramento (AOE 1) completes more than 570 replenishments during her third Vietnam deployment, providing her customers with more than 38 million gallons of aviation gasoline and 2,000 short tons of provisions and freight. She also provides transportation for 930 passengers for transfer to other ships, delivers 57,140 pounds of mail, supplies almost 254,000 gallons of water and transfers more than 14,000 short tons of ammo.

And, finally, ship departments aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) make giant Christmas cards for display in the hangar bay to celebrate the season.

60% reduction in the basic training phase of IDTC, an increase in the time between underway material inspections by INSLJRV, a boost to the meaning of "stand down" during the 30-day post-deploy- ment period, and the establishment of a Fleet Review Board to study and propose additional training and inspec- tion efficiencies.

"This is a further step in the right direction to unburden the non-deployed side of our lives," the CNO wrote in his message.

"The IDTC initiatives will permit commanding officers to have more discretionary time and allow Sailors more time at home with their families."

The CNO also pointed out another important aspect of the IDTC initiative - creating a new level of trust at the commanding officer level.

''This, of course, requires our commanding officers to embrace this enhanced responsibility and exercise their authority to ensure operational primacy - readiness -while taking better care of their people. I believe they are more than equal to that tasking," the CNO wrote.

The complete text of the CNO's message can be found in NAVOP 010/98 (CNO Washington, D.C. 151947ZOCT98).

Story by CNO Public Affairs.

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B y S a r a h B u r f o r d

My Mommy’s a

I

C onstruction Mechanic 2nd Class Lisa Correa gets called all ‘ inds of names - “Mud r uppy:’ “Mermaid:’ and “Seabee Jane:’ to name only a few. But for this Sailor, wife and mother, the only name

that matters to her right now is her new title of Underwater Construction Technician (UCT), or as the Navy‘s‘ diving community might say, “Seabee Diver.”

Correa recently received her certificate from the Naval Construction Training Center’s Underwater Construction School

CM2(DV) Lisa Correa mixes ET. with quality

time as she teaches her daughter, Jasmine, the

fine art of the push-up.

and earned a distinctive place in Navy diving history, becoming only the second woman, and the first African-American woman, to qualify as a Seabee Diver. Though the recognition has been “nice:’ she is quick to point out that the job is what really matters - and the chance to do something she has always wanted to do.

Born and raised in Japan, Correa’s formative years were spent as a “Navy brat:’ following her father around the world while dreaming of the day when she too could have a Navy career.

“I had seen those big Navy posters used for recruiting, with people in uniform doing their jobs:’ Correa said. “I wanted to be on a Seabee poster.”

Following boot camp and “A“ school, Correa was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 (NMCB-4). But she wanted something more. “Being a mechanic is oil change after oil change and that starts to get pretty monotonous. I wanted a change:’ she said.

Then she discovered diving. “Strong mind, strong body” is a way of

life at the Dive School. During the six months of training in Panama City, Fla.,

students undergo rigorous physical training as well as classroom instruction in basic medicine, advanced physics and emergency procedures. The school boasts a 62% attrition rate. Beyond that, Correa had another obstacle to overcome. She was one of only two women in her class.

Readiness Requirements that have sepa- rate standards for men and women, the dive school has one standard. Everyone is rated the same. Correa found herself constantly challenged.

But Correa’s first taste of diving made all the hard work worth it. Though she admitted it was an overwhelming experi- ence. “It was weird:’ she said. “You really feel like a visitor in another world, and you understand just how much you have to respect that world.”

success to her husband, who is also a Seabee, and her four-year-old daughter, who loves to tell everyone, “My mommfs a mermaid!”

Unlike standard Navy Physical

Correa gives much of the credit for her

Burford is assigned to Public Aflairs, Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, Cal$

A L L H A N D S

correa is the first African-American woman to qualify as a “Seabee Diver.”

: first glance he looks like any other chief petty officer. But, upon closer examination, there are two things that distinguish him: a red 1 rope that hangs around

his left shoulder and a badge with the words “Recruit Division Commander” attached to his pocket. This man takes raw, civilian molds and sculpts them into the Sailors of our future.

Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Jeffery A. Dickinson from Lenexa, Kan., like all Recruit Division Commanders, or RDCs, signed a pledge upon graduation from RDC school. The words are inscribed on a card he carries with him at all times and are a way of life for RDCs. It reads: “These recruits are entrusted to my care. I will train them to the best of my ability. I will develop them into smartly disciplined, physically-fit, basically- trained Sailors. I will instill in them, and demonstrate by my own example, the highest standard of honor, courage and commitment.”

“The recruits look to me to set the example, so I must handle and present myself in a professional manner at all times. I counsF1 them on personal as well as military issues. I enjoy watching the scared, disorganized, young people slowly become Sailors,” said the 16-year veteran. “For the most part the recruits are moti- vated and it’s up to me to bring out the

best in each and every one of them. I get my reward when they pass-in-review and graduate.’’

division and has watched nearly 900 young men and women complete

He is currently pushing his eleventh

..-

followed by an intense eight-week course of instruction. Besides having outstanding evaluations, RDC selectees must be warfare qualified (waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis) and recom- mended by their commanding officer.

commander, LT Andress J. Lewis from Kalamazoo, Mich., Dickinson possesses qualities which make him one of the top RDCs at the command.

“In addition to being a top-notch RDC, he also takes on all sorts of collateral duties. He’s on the command assessment team, tutors at a local elemen- tary school and organizes base tours for local groups like the Sea Cadets. Just

According to the barracks

THESE RECRUITS ARE boot camp and head off to start their adventure.

Dickjnson is stationed aboard Ship 6 (USS Carr) one of 14 barracks named after Navy ships at Recruit Training Center (RTC) Great Lakes, Ill. Each ship has 12 divisions with approximately 88 recruits in each division. Three RDCs are responsible for each division. Last year, nearly 50,000 recruits passed through the doors of RTC on their way to the fleet.

Earning the title of RDC is not easy. It involves a stringent screening process

about everything that comes along, he grabs it and does it.”

and the recruits he works with everyday, Dickinson’s answer was short and to the point.

lazy. That’s nonsense. They just need someone to show them the way.”

Moore is a journalist assigned to Navy Public Afairs Center, Norfolk.

When asked how he feels about his job

“A lot of people say this generation is

14 A L L H A N D S

A n d t h e B a n d Played

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y P H 3 L e n a G o n z a l e z

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ands from all o

will be ready.

T he U.S. Navy Band recently joined other military bands at a world-renowned, inter-

national Swedish Army Tattoo at the Globe Arena in Stockholm. This year’s concert showcased military bands from

Norway, Great Britain and Sweden as well as the United States.

The Navy Band doesn’t often get the opportunity to travel overseas. Two years ago they journeyed to St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad in Russia to help celebrate the Russian Navy’s 300th Anniversary.

But according to Musician 1st Class Connie Frigo, a saxophonist from Endicott, N.Y., the band travels quite a bit within the United States. “The great thing

about the traveling is that when we do public concerts, 95% of the time the places we perform are completely booked:’ said Frigo. “Thousands of people are watching us. We attract mostly war veterans and it’s a great feeling to see the outpouring of enthusiasm for us.”

ular section of the country each year. The tours last approximately 30 days, give or take a day or two. Last year they performed all along the West Coast in California, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada.

The U.S. Navy Band tours one partic-

Unlike most ratings in the Navy, becoming a member of the U.S. Navy Band takes more than just boot camp and “A“ schools. To become a member of any

of the 12 Navy bands throughout the fleet, you must have an extensive knowl- edge of music and pass a difficult

A mother and her child enjoy audition. But to become a member of the

at a square in downtown Stockholm. “An advertisement was sent to my sax the msic Of the U.S. Navy Band U.S. Navy Band, YOU have to be special.

teacher at Ithaca College in upstate New York,” said Frigo. “At the time I knew [retired

~ MUCM] Dale

Underwood, a world-renowned saxophonist in the

music community. He made the Navy Band familiar to me and he helped pave the way for saxophonists to make mili- tary bands a career.”

The U.S. Navy Band advertises for new members mostly through schools and trade papers. Frigo was a junior in college when she auditioned for her section.

But the men and women who make up our Navy‘s finest concert band are not just musicians - they are also Sailors.

The U.S. Navy Band marches down a crowded street in Stockholm.

They participate in physical training, take the Physical Readiness Test every six months and are evaluated in the same manner as anyone else in the fleet.

These musicians work extremely hard at what they do. They practice for hours and sometimes are asked to perform at a moment’s notice. Basically they’re on call 24 hours-a-day.

“The hardest part about our job is having to be flexible because anything

performing situation. I think all of us are at such a level of training that the act of performing is what we want to do. We don’t consider that hard. That’s our passion,” said Frigo.

The U.S. Navy Band is an organiza- tion consisting of many intelligent and incredibly talented artists. They hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music and a few even have their doctor- ates. When they decided to joiri the Navy it was because of their love of music and a desire for a prestigious career as a professional musician.

“I can’t think of another place where you would find so many talented and intelligent people in one setting,” said Frigo.

and their desire to perform makes any sacrifice worthwhile. Their dedication, skill and talent makes them the best of the best.

I can happen to our schedule and our

For these Sailors, their love of music

Gonzalez is a photographer’s mate assigned to All Hands.

UNITED STATES:

Activity Memphis, Tenn. Station North Island, Calif.

lavy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the

Blue Angels, and some of the best flying in

the world.

the air, a hand-picked, specially-trained crew

works to ensure that those blue and gold

fighters are solid, safe and aweinspiringly

beautiful. It takes a special Sailor to lead that

ground crew. Here are the stories of two

Sailors who have what it takes to prepare the

“best of the best.”

( S W ) D a v e k ~ t z

I

Checkin’ Six

E ven though she has performed the pre-flight routine hundreds of times, Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st Class

Karen Marini from New Haven, Conn., still gets nervous. Though not as bad as *he first time.

“I was out there with thousands of people staring directly at me. My knees were shaking terribly, my salute was trembling, but I got through it.”

her first year with the Blues. “The Blue Angels are a unique part of the Navy and the uniform represents the teamwork and traditions from which we all stem. From the color of our suits and the American flag on our sleeve to the never-ending hard work that goes into earning our crest,” she said.

“The training program for a crew chief is phenomenal. There is a lot of information to learn and the responsi- bility is unnerving at times. This job cannot be taken lightly; the jet and the pilot’s safety are my responsibility.”

the pilot for jet No. 6 , has made it rewarding. “He is very laid back and shows his appreciation often. The bond between a crew chief and a pilot is incredible. Doing the simple things such as changing the tension level on the stick

She has gotten through many during

But working with LT Doug Verissimo,

rxz IS a lournalist assigned to Blue Angels Public Affairs.

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J O I R o b e r t B e n s o n

1

rn

ows fascinate Radioman 2nd Class Kurt Essebaggert. He wonders why they stop eating and stare every time

he pulls his government 4x4 off dirt road 87 and honks

l J hishorn. He-also wonders why bullet holes riddle every highway sign near his duty station in the tiny village of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Or how grasshoppers grow to be as big as Swiss Army knives and why it seems every Ford and

Chevy pickup has a rifle rack mounted on the rear of the cab. The list of unanswered questions grows daily for the big-city-

schooled Essebaggert, who assumed duties as the the Navy’s recruiter in Scottsbluff nine months ago. But thanks to Scott Fegler, a farmer at the edge of town, Lucy Cirille, a waitress in the city’s only cafd, and many others like them, some of his questions are getting answered - slowly, but answered just the same.

Scottsbluff is far from any ocean. In fact, the nearest body of water is probably Rosemary Johnson’s backyard swim- ming pool on Route 9. With a population of 13,566, Scottsbluff

is a typical farming town and Essebaggert, a Denver native, is like a fish out of water as he learns to adjust to Scottsbluff‘s somewhat slower way of life.

Often acting as the sole recruiter for much of two states, Essebaggert is constantly on the road visiting towns so

This place is definitely diferent.

Essebaggert won’t get much help from this stranger, but he tries anyway. “1’11 do anything for a laugh out here. You need to laugh to break the monotony.”

25

remote, so secluded, so far from anything, that he’s an attraction every time he makes a school visit or house call. People stop and stare, they whisper and point. They call their friends, who gather to watch from a distance as the lean, six-footer wallcs by in his dress whites.

stationed in Scottsbluff,” recalled Essebaggert, “I did a double take and asked, ‘where?’ I had to go look at a map to find it.’’

During his first month at the recruiting station, Essebaggert just observed, and at times admitted he was “completely lost” as he tried to learn the idiosyncracies sf recruiting in a place where the Navy is as foreign as.. . well, a battleship on the Platte River.

Perhaps he was overwhelmed by the dizzying miles he and his fellow recruiter had to drive to visit schools and potential recruits’ homes (up to 6,000 rniles per month). Or maybe it was the things he

“When I heard I was going to be

I

thing I’m good at, it’s getting out and

talking to people. didn‘t learn in recruiting school, like how to flag down help when your car slides off an icy road into a snowbank - a road where you could wait for hours before another car appears on the horizon. Or how to safely maneuver your car through a passing herd of cattle.

“This place is definitely different,” admits Essebaggert. “We have a large area to cover (parts of woming and Nebraska) and most of it is the same - farm fields and nothing else.’’ The long drives give him a lot of time to observe. He knows how much a bale of hay weighs. He knows how many telephone poles make up a mile. And he knows just

how damn tough it is to recruit in Nebraska.

But that’s no problem for Essebaggert. He’s got recruiting talent in his blood. His reason for becoming a recruiter, he claims, remains simple, “to make a differ- ence in kids’ lives.” And the only way he knows to achieve that goal is by talking.

“People like to chit-chat out here,” said the 26 year-old. “It’s not like a large town where people you run into quickly say, ‘Hi’ and then, ‘Bye’. Out here they’ll stop and talk for 10 minutes or more at a stretch - complete strangers.”

seconds. That goes away as soon as he Strangers for only a matter of

A L L H A N D S

lays his wit, humor and confidence on them. “My mom says I have the gift of gab. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s getting out and talking to people.”

Essebaggert said he once recruited a young man in a Subway restaurant. “I was putting up a poster in the Subway and got to talking with one of the customers. He was so impressed that he went and joined the Navy a week later.”

Sometimes Essebaggert has a tougher time selling the Navy. Like three months ago, when he visited a small house in the country 65 miles from Scottsbluff. “I had to go there to do an interview with a potential recruit. I could understand what the boy was saying, but I couldn’t under- stand his parents because of their thick accent. First time I met him, the father said ‘es a nicst de ut, gua go gita he-bon.’ I was completely baflled so I just smiled. Luckily I had my chief with me who was from the area and he understood,” He translated that phrase (“It’s a nice day out, I’m going to go get a T-bone.”) and every- thing else during the interview.

During home visits, Essebaggert does his best to teach what life in the Navy is

like, something he admits is tough when he speaks to those whd have never been out of the state.

The uniform he wears is often enough to show one good reason for joining the Navy - travel. His ribbons and medals show his diverse background - a Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Philippines, a Good Conduct Medal from USS California (CGN 36), and a Navy Achievement Medal from Japan. The most international thing in Scottsbluff may just be Essebaggert himself. His office wall is lined with command plaques from Japan to Washington. He shows his Navy photo album to everyone he can - photos of port calls in Hawaii, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia and the West Coast.

“I’ve been all over and I let people know that. It helps sell the Navy.”

Still, selling remains difficult at times. “They call this job an emotional roller- coaster, and that’s even more true out here in Nebraska,” said Essebaggert. “We have recruiting goals every month that we have to meet. Sometimes we can easily do that, and other months it’s more of a challenge,”

Another challenge is overcoming negative responses. “For me, ‘no’ is a chal- lenge. It makes me try harder. I don’t push that person harder, I push myself harder. I can’t understand why anyone would say ‘no’ to pay, education, room and board and a great way of life.”

can chalk up to things Essebaggert doesn’t understand.

But hey, that’s just one more thing we

That, and cows and grasshoppers.. .

Benson i s a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

For me, ‘no’ is a challenge. It makes

I me try harder.

I I

F

I' A

I

Stone lives in Brandenburgs’s home port of Wilhelmshaven, just west of Denmark.

“The chiefs here are a little different from chiefs in the U.S. Navy. Once you make chief in the U.S., you’re expected to be more of an advisor. Here, I’m more of a technician. As an E-8 at my last sea command, I had 30 people working for me. Here, I don’t have anybody’’

All crew members, regardless of rank, eat in a “mess style” setting and punctu- ality is expected. “If you’re five minutes late, forget it,” said Stone. “You’d better plan on catching the next setting - and you better show up five minutes early just to be safe.”

“The food here took a little getting used to,” said Stone. “If something is gekocht, it’s boiled. Gebraten, means it’s pan-fried and gebacken is oven-baked.”

can at times be inconvenient. The noticeable lack of water fountains

“Sometimes it’s just plain frustrating:’ said Stone. “I was drinking water out of the tap in my stateroom one day when my roommate stopped me. ‘Don’t drink the water,’ he said, ‘it’s got chlorine in it.’ I asked him if I was going to die? He said, ‘Probably.’ I think he was kidding.” Tap water is generally used only for washing. If you want water, you’d better get it bottled in the ship’s store, or kantine.

Kameradschaft (comradeship) is important in the German Navy. Oberstbootsmunn Udo Muller, the senior member of the chief‘s mess, said that Kameradschaft is sort of like being there for each other. “Germans are very social,” said Stone. “Everyone wants to be accepted.”

Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SW) Rick Breininger of Fast Boat Patrol

Squadron 3 (3.SchnellBootGeschwader) is another PEP sailor serving in Germany. He lives in Flensburg, a port town just 15 minutes south of the Danish border. From the time he leaves home in the morning until the time he returns, he speaks only German.

Flensburg’s remoteness, it is fascinating duty. “What’s really great about being in the PEP program is not serving with Germans, but rather living almost like Germans. I say ‘almost’ because we don’t pay taxes. I know a lot of guys who live on the military bases in Germany and shop at the commissary and eat at the mess. They live in their tiny little piece of America. But that’s not us. We have to buy groceries, get car parts and do all those things forward-deployed Americans would do without the benefit of a nearby military base. The nearest commissary to us is an eight-hour drive away.”

There are some basic differences between the U.S. Navy and the German navy. “For every day of duty a German sailor stands, they get a point,” said Breininger.” If they stand duty on a Friday, they get a point and a half. If it’s a Saturday or Sunday, they get two points.” These points get added up at the end of the month by the DZA-Beaufirager (duty

Breininger found that despite

time equalization representative) who will then give that person time off, extra money or a combination of both based on how many points they have accumulated.

The other big difference is that you can get beer on board - on tap or in cans. While underway, crew members can have two ‘units,’ that is two glasses or two cans, a day. “They take their drinking seriously here,” adds Breininger, “but they are responsible about it.”

supports the fast patrol boats within the squadron. Unlike American tenders, German tenders have work centers, what they call containers, which can be craned on and off depending on the ship’s current mission. Breininger’s ET shop is one of those containers. It is slightly smaller than a school bus and is home to his staff and all his electronic components.

a lieutenant who teaches at the German Naval Academy, represent the only

Breininger’s ship, the tender FGS Rhein,

Breininger and one other Navy Sailor,

American naval presence in the Flensburg area.

Fast Boat Patrol Squadron 3 will soon be decommissioned and its boats sold to a foreign country or transferred to another squadron. The tender’s mission will be changed to minesweeping. But Breininger won’t pack it in and return to the United States. With less than a year until retirement, he plans to finish his career in a similar billet at a nearby base. Hoping he and Stone can continue to be American ambas- sadprs to the German navy.

Gunder is u photojournalist assigned to AU Hands.

For more information about the U.S. Navy’s Personnel Exchange Program, visit mnm.anchorgroup.com/PEP-Germany

about being in the is not serving with Germans,

~%:

. #

‘1

but rather living almost like Germans.] ”-I In the German navy, the chiefs are more like teChniGianS

than advisors. ETCS(SW) Rick Breininger and Bootsman Andre Seifert, an electroniker (electronics technician) from the former East Berlin, troubleshoot

the radar on board FGS Fuchs (S 6146), one of the fast patrol boats in Breininger’s squadron. 31

uartermaster lst Class (SW)

Jon Thurston i s lying in his rack this

morning, blankets pulled high over his

head. Outside his stateroom he can

hear the crew whispering, trying hard to keep

32

their voices low. It’s not working. He can waves on the side of his boat - a boat which i s

hear every word. 200 miles south of Kauai, in the open Pacific

Still, that’s not what is keeping him awake. Ocean. The 85foot torpedo retrieval boat he

Thurston’s eyes would be closed - and closed commands i s bouncing like a bobber. And today,

tight - i f it weren’t for the constant pounding of the power of the sea i s showing no mercy.

33

Thurston yells to the bridge to take up slack on the winch

line being used to lower a torpedo into the water.

QMl(SW) Jon Thurston and a member of his crew haul in a torpedo.

Finally Thurston has had enough. He heaves himself out of his rack and makes his way to the bridge, being sure to grab a cup of coffee on the way.

No sugar and no cream. Black - that’s the way he likes it.

This is Thurston’s boat. There is little doubt about that. Not many E-6s in the Navy can claim a boat as their own. But Thurston is the commanding officer of a multi-million dollar vessel. He has a crew of seven and the authority to call the shots.

“I love having my own craft, crew and the faith of the Naval Station C.O. to run them the way I want,” said Thurston. “For me, this is the best sea duty in the Navy.”

based craft, Thurston is charged with running and maintaining the 20-year-

As craftmaster of the Pearl Harbor-

A L L H A N D S

old boat. He also carries out other skipper duties such as overseeing the well-being of his crew, scheduling upkeep periods with the local Intermediate Maintenance Facility, and submitting award packages for those under him.

The mission of his boat, Chaparral (M 7), is to provide service to the fleet - primarily submarines - in retrieving torpedoes. The rear two-thirds of the sea-going craft is open deck which leads to the water at the stern for the recovery and stowing of torpedoes. Chaparral also acts as a search and rescue platform for the Coast Guard in Hawaii.

“Most people don’t even know we exist,” said Thurston. “We’re kind of forgotten over here. I was in the Navy for 12 years before I even learned that torpedo retrieval boats existed.”

D E C E M B E R 1 9 9 8

Then one day two years ago he learned about the boats in a quick way when he received orders to command one of them.

During a recent exercise, RIMPAC ‘98, Thurston and his crew played the part of a blockade-runner cutting through naval ship lines and a fishing boat with illegal contraband. They’ve ferried around VIPs, admirals and movie stars and they’ve transported thousands of Sailors to submarines.

All of it under the leadership of a good driver and a couple of diesel, 900- horsepower engines.

“The boat handles like a Corvette. Even though it’s 85 feet long, I’m able to maneuver it into a 90-foot pier.” Thurston’s ability to command is born of traits that he says every craftmaster has, “strong leadership, good boat handling

The evening sun paints Thurston in a warm glow as he makes an

entry in his logbook.

skills, knowledge of the rules of the road, qualification as conning officer, helm, and lookout, and a desire to excel.’’

Traits he has honed over a matter of not days or weeks, but months and years. A curve that has spanned his entire 12- year quartermaster career.

Right now Thurston is working on finishing his master’s degree. Ten years from now he says he will probably be a lieutenant commander.

Now, there’s a vision: Thurston on the bridge of a brand new destroyer in the year 2008. With torpedo retrieval boat memories strong in his head, there is no doubt - he’s still in charge.

Benson is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

35

i

I D E C E M B E R 1 9 9 8

”I,--

The crowd waists with biting

anticipation. Thousands of feet above

their heads, a team of specially-trained

Navy SEALS exits the rear of a C-130

cargo plane with exacting precision. On

the ground, fathers lift children onto

shoulders as mothers point out the

multkolored smoke streamers

deployed by the jumpers. With their

chins held high, the crowd anxiously

scans the sky above them, each

wanting to be the first to see them

coming. Then, finally, a chute deploys

and the air show crowd erupts in an

ovation of cheers as they read the word

“Navy” stitched into the canopy. The

men glide gracefully to the ground,

each one hitting the mark with a wave

and a smile to the thousands who have

gathered in the sun. As the final

member of the team sets down with

the American flag trailing behind him

there is no doubt the U.S. Navy Leap

Frogs have arrived.

Based out of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., 28-year-old Michael Ford of Lyneville, Ala., proudly serves h i s country as a member of this elite para- batic, free-fall parachuting team known as the Leap Frogs.

Ford performs 50 to 60 precision free- fall demonstrations a season throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“Being able to travel and perform in front of millions of people is a really great feeling,” said Ford. “I am proud to be part of i team that puts on a show that is exciting, visually stimulating and very intense.”

Ford is one of 15 Navy SEALS on the team, which consists of two officers and 13 enlisted personnel from both the East and West Coast Special Warh~t:

SEALS (from left) BMC Dwight Settle from Houston, OS2 Michael Ford, BM1 James Boycheck from Fernel, Nev., and RM2 Jon Smith from Naples, Fla., go over mental notes after completing a “quad-by-side” jump at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

I Commands. In addition to skydiving, Ford is also a expert in demolition, small arms, surveillance and combat swimming.

As a Navy Leap Frog, Ford has taken his highly sophisticated airborne inser- tion SEAL training and transformed it into a visual aerial display consisting of free-falling formations and precision canopy maneuvering.

One of the many aerial maneuvers Ford performs is the “quad-by-side.” The Leap Frogs are the only jump team in the world that has been able to successfully perform this maneuver during an air show performance. Ford and three other SEALS are held together I

by quick release webbing that joins them as one, forming an inter-linked semi- circle, while all four deployed canopies race toward the ground at speeds in excess of 60 mph.

“The ‘quad-by-side’ is the most dangerous formation we do at shows:’ said Ford. “It gives me an incredible adrenaline rush, unlike anything else I have ever experienced.”

members make their six-minute, death- defying, 60 mph, 13,000-foot jump, they spend hours upon hours preparing - checking their chutes and then checking them again. As the team rigger, safety is always on Ford’s mind.

But before Ford and his team

“Not only do I want to ensure my chute opens safely, but I want to ensure that everyone else on the team gets what they need.

“The day goes by quickly, and the next thing you know, you’ve made your jump and you are back on the ground:’ continued Ford. “The best part of the job is when we jump into elementary and middle schools. It’s as if Superman just landed. Knowing that I have been a posi- tive role model and that I could have influenced some of them to someday join the Navy are pretty good feelings.”

Banks is a photojournalist assigned to the Navy Public Affairs Center, San Diego.

Aircrew Survival Equlpmentman Airman Randy Hooks has been

in the Navy for less than two years, but already he has met

hundreds of people and made dozens of life-long friends. At

EOD Mobile Unit 3 at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San

Diego, he made the friend of a lifetime - Dinky.

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y P H 2 A a r o n A n s a r o v

D inky is a 24-year-old Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin trained for the Navy‘s Mark 6 (MK 6) Marine Mammal System. Dinky has been with the Navy Marine Mammal Program

since he was three. He is assigned to Hooks for the time being, or maybe it is the other way around.

Originally from Jackson, Miss., Hooks never dreamed that someday he would be working with a dolphin - and getting

receive is restaurant quality, and is thawed out and cleaned just before feeding.

This can get expensive - food and medication alone cost about $15,000 per year per dolphin - but the payback in the number of human lives saved by these animals is incalculable.

Mobile Unit 3 has six highly trained

The Navy’s Marine Mammal Program MK 6 swimmer defense dolphins.

has fielded four operational marine mammal systems - the MK 5 sea lion

that may pose a threat to a ship or a pier. It was used in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and most recently to support waterside security at the 1996 Republican Convention in San Diego.

The Navy loans a small number of its dolphins to non-government organi- zations such as universities and marine parks for research and for breeding purposes.

“Working with Dinky has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me that

paid for it. “Some people go to marine parks and oceanariums and pay substan- tial amounts to spend a few hours with the dolphins. And it’s my job to spend most - to all - of the day with Dinky. It’s unbelievable,” said Hooks.

Hooks has been working with Dinky for eight months and has learned that precision counts. Dolphins can be exacting creatures, especially when it comes to the hand signals that Hooks uses to direct his mammal friend.

“If you make an arm movement incorrectly, they just look at you like you don’t know what you’re doing. When I first started working with Dinky, he walked all over me.”

Dolphins are very trainable animals. Once they are trained, they know exactly what they are signaled to do and, when signaled correctly, do it without question.

The Navy’s dolphins are fed about 10 to 15 pounds of capelin, herring, mack- erel and smelt a day to meet their detary needs. “These dolphins are treated better than most humans. The fish that we

D E C E M B E R 1 9 9 8

I

wng aay, me of their

ill make seconds ’ to iwl

‘ h

object recovery system, the MK 4 and I don’t think I would have had the MK 7 mine-hunting systems and the opportunity to do had I not joined the MK 6 system. Navy,” said Hooks.

swimmer and diver detection system that Ansarov is a photojournalist assigned to can mark the location of any intruder Navy Public Affairs Center, San Diego.

The MK 6 system is a dolphin

41

””

I

i Navy Online % . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42

an e-mail at and be sure to put

Eye on the F l e e t

I E Y E 0 N T H E F L E E T 1 is a monthly photo feature sponsored by

the Chief of Information Navy News Photo Division. We are looking

in the fleet, to showcase the American Sailor in 1-

- "lu,

(heart) San Diego." $ Photo by pH2 Aaron Ansarov

. . . .

QM3 Matthew Gorski from Barstow, Calif., plots a course for USS Enterprise (CVN 65) away from the Virginia Capes as Hurricane Bonnie bears down on the Atlantic coastline. Photo bv PH1 Mario P. Romero

I DAMAGE CONTROL -.-

- To be considered, forward your images with full credit and cutline information, including: full name, rank and duty station. Name all identifiable people within the photo and include important information about what is happening, where the photo was taken and the date.

Commands with digital photo capability can send attached .jpg files to: navynewsphoto@hq.navy.mil.

Mail your submissions to: NAVY NEWS PHOTO DIVISION, NAVSTA ANACOSTIA, BLDG 168, 2701 S. CAPITOL ST. S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20373-5819

A

E v e on the F l e e t

.". ' .,

TURNING TWO AT2 Tom Crowe from Ligonier, Pa., performs preventive maintenance on an F-14 Tomcat on the flight deck of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Photo by PH2 Shawn Eklund

PAST PRESENCE Navy Quarterback Steve Holle., w.Y,,.UJ

the initials "JM" on his helmet in hono of his fallen teammate James Mc( who died this past summ his midshipman's cruise. Photo by PH2 Damon Moria

. "

on

Ir

i

A Sailor practices his stroke in the early-morning sun at NAS Oceana’s golf course. Photo by LT Mike Lent

I

Aviation Electronics Technicran Alrman Daniel Razevich from Troy, Ohio, was awarded Meritorious Captain’s Mast at Naval Station Rota, Spain. Razevich was praised by his chain of command for possessing exceptional motivation, professionalism and dedication to duty. He is the first airman to qualify as an In-Flight Technician (IFT) on VQ-2’s EP-3E Aries 11.

zation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class (AW) L a W Ferguson received the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal for his work as a base police officer for NAVBASE San Diego. A 16-year Navy veteran, Ferguson resides in South County where he is a Sergeant with the Department of Corrections.

Aviation War are Systems Operator 2nd Class (NAC) Andrew wal f ace was selected Senior Sailor of the Quarter (3rd Quarter) 1998 for Helicopter Anti-Submarine Wing, US. Pacific Fleet, San Diego. The Grand Terrace, Calif., native was responsible for developing a training program for HH-60H Combat Search and Rescue aircrew - training he used during an exercise in Spokane,

-- i I Wash., to rescue two people from a downed helicopter.

Disbursin Clerk 1st Class (SW) Kenneth L d b Y was selected as Personnel Support Activity Det. Great Lakes, Ill., Sailor of the Year for 1997. A native of Pekin, Ill., Godby was recognized for his performance as the assistant pay director, travel branch supervisor and total quality leadership facilitator. He successfully reduced the backlog of travel claims by ’

increasing efficiency from a 16-day to a five-day turn around.

1” tbl 1

“Being on a German ship (FGS Brandenburp is way different from a1 American ship,” said PH2 Joseph Gunder, who r c

traveled to Kiel, Germany, to do a story on the Personnel Exchange Program (Pal 28). “Besides being ab1 to get beer on tap whilt on board, you’re treated a little different. It’s a lot more like a small family, except without sisters around. I was also given the opportunity to go for a ride on a Lynx(a European heli- copter). I knew they were going to do winch exerclses that aflernoon, but I expected the helo to come in for a landing, not pull me up 30 feet from the fligM deck1 What a trip, what a ship!”

VI 4 Q 0 r I - VI - L

were the earliest form of y American Sailors. These

harmonious melodies were used to coordi- nate evolutions on deck, such as the raising and lowering of sails, and to help soften the rigors of shipboard life. (See story p. 16)

were formed at th

would keep the public interested in na aviation. The team first performed in Jun 1946 at their homebase, NAS Jacksonvill Fla. Two months later on Aug. 25,1946, tl Blue Angels introduced their now-famouc “diamond” formation. By the end of the 1940s, the Blue Angels were flying jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther, in

Nebraska, is named in

who, deserted by his companions, died a at the base of the magnificent formation

Although many other settlers died on th Oregon and Mormon Trails (covered w trails which are still visible in the pass between the bluffs) as well as the Pony

to be smiling. The shape of their short noses gives the lasting impression of a grin and makes this species of dolphin one of the best-known and most-loved mammals in the world. These dolphins measure about 15 feet

I Answer:

I JOIN OUR NAVY RECRUITING TEAM NOW!

Contact your Recruiter Selection Team at (703) 696-4131, DSN 426-4131 or e-mail 1131Qhq.nrc.navy.mil